Home Office cracks down on illegal working by sharing data with delivery firms
- The Home Office collaborates with Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats to share data on asylum hotel locations.
- This initiative addresses illegal working by asylum seekers in high-risk areas often tied to delivery services.
- Enhanced data sharing and enforcement measures are part of the government's efforts to combat organized immigration crime.
In the United Kingdom, the Home Office has announced a new agreement aimed at sharing information regarding the locations of hotels housing asylum seekers with food delivery companies such as Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats. This collaboration primarily seeks to tackle suspected hotspots of illegal working related to asylum seekers, who are generally prohibited from employment while their applications for asylum are processed, unless they have been waiting for over a year. The launch of this initiative has emerged amid increasing concerns about abuse within the gig economy, where delivery drivers allegedly share accounts with asylum seekers, thus violating their employment regulations. Recent visits by Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp revealed significant evidence of illegal activity involving these food delivery platforms, prompting the need for stringent measures to address these issues. The Home Office is taking a proactive stance to address illegal working through enhanced data sharing practices. Underlining the seriousness of the situation, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that illegal working undermines legitimate businesses, exploits vulnerable individuals, and contributes to organized immigration crime. As part of this initiative, food delivery companies are expected to intensify identity verification checks and implement more robust processes for recognizing unauthorized workers on their platforms. This cooperation between the Home Office and delivery services aims to swiftly suspend the accounts of any delivery riders found to be sharing their accounts with asylum seekers. The legal framework around illegal working is being tightened, supported by a reported 50% increase in raids and arrests for unlawful employment as part of the Plan for Change. Recent discussions among officials, delivery firms, and the Home Office have emphasized the importance of tackling the factors that attract migrants to work illegally in the UK. As part of the government's broader immigration strategy, these measures are integrated within a framework alongside agreements with European nations to deter irregular migration flows. As the number of individuals crossing the English Channel has hit a record high for this point in the year, the government remains under pressure to enforce regulations and effectively manage migration.